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I was mugged tonight at 10:30 while walking up 6th Ave. between Park Place and Prospect Place. Two young, black men in their late teens basically came from the street and jumped me, trying to grab my phone as I was sending a text message. I fought back, and started to run toward Prospect Place, when a third person blocked my path, and the other two attacked me again, punching me in the face, knocking me to the ground and taking my phone. I got up and chased after the one who had my phone, and there were two or three others blocking my way. They didn't stop me, but the guy with the phone ran down Park Place toward 5th Ave., and the others all dispersed. You know, I know everyone says not to text or use your phone at night on the street, but North Park Slope is generally a pretty safe area and I've never had any problems before. I know I won't get my phone back, but I just wanted to put it out there that this sort of thing does happen, even in a safe area. I don't know if this is some sort of gang thing, because there were at least five guys involved in this attack, but it might be a good thing to watch out, everyone, and let the police know that this is happening. Has anyone else had a similar experience recently?
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Wow, I walk my son around there at night when he can't sleep. There are usually people around. It is amazing that when things like this go down, there is no one around to have your back. It would be great if our electronic gear could have some type of chip in it so that the police could find it after a mugging. I just bought a $400 iPod touch yesterday and was thinking that it is almost too nice to take outside for a walk.
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Apartment Blues » Wow, I walk my son around there at night when he can't sleep. There are usually people around. It is amazing that when things like this go down, there is no one around to have your back. It would be great if our electronic gear could have some type of chip in it so that the police could find it after a mugging. I just bought a $400 iPod touch yesterday and was thinking that it is almost too nice to take outside for a walk.
Arshisvang, very sorry for the horrible situation. It does shake one when it happens. I hope these criminals are caught and get what they deserve. I agree it is not safe to flash electronics in the street, particularly at night: It makes us very easy targets for these creeps. ApartmentBlues, I understand the 78th Precinct - and other precincts in Brooklyn - continue with the program allowing people to register their electronics, including cellphones and IPods, and getting them etched. You may want to explore that possibility. -
Anonymous
Posts: 9,622Wow. Arshisvang, I'm sorry that happened and glad you weren't hurt too badly. I do try to take my headphones out at night or if I am alone on the street, but I definitely don't pay attention all the time, so I am sure this could happen to me as well. ApartmentBlues - the iPhone does have location functionality in it if you also use MobileMe. It will pinpoint down to the block you are on. That's not enough to find it exactly, but if you ever drop it on a walk or something, you know where to look. -
Flexi, Good to know. I was thinking that it would be great if you could put the same chip you put into a pet, into your expensive electronics. Unless of course, the technology you are talking about is that same technology. About 5-6 years ago, I was walking up 14th street towards the movie theater, on a Saturday afternoon in the summer. People were on the sidewalks and around. Three young men who probably just left the movies were walking towards me and started taking swings at me. It came as a surprise because they were smiling and laughing. People were all around, but I felt all alone. Not much you can do when it is three against one. Then they started running away. Almost like magic, a police car appeared at the light by the Pavilion, but of course, didn't see a thing. They wouldn't let me hop in the patrol car so I could point out the young men. And of course, I was put in the position of telling two white cops that three African American men just attacked me. The police drove around, but reported that they couldn't find anyone. It wasn't getting punched that bothered me so much, it was the fact that no one did anything. One would hope that in such a scenario, the cops would say, "hop in and point them out."
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Arshisvang, hope you're not too banged up. Thanks for sharing here, but I hope that you also reported this to the police so they have a record of where/when this kind of stuff is happening.
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sorry you lost your phone. ....but it sounds like you could have avoided injury by just letting it go. There are bold ones There are old ones ...but there are very few bold, old ones.For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.
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Apartment Blues » It would be great if our electronic gear could have some type of chip in it so that the police could find it after a mugging.
I saw a news report a couple of years ago that talked about the fact that Apple basically has the capability to do this, but they don't want to talk about it publicly or cooperate with law enforcement investigations, because they fear a consumer backlash. They were more comfortable allowing consumers to figure out their own methods for tracking (Mobile Me, actvating camaras in laptops, etc) rather than taking action at the corporate level. -
Anonymous
Posts: 9,622I forgot to mention that my Dell laptop has a lo-jack tracking device in it. The service was included for the first year or so, but I didn't pay to extend it. Good thing, too, because the damn thing just "bricked" on me last week
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IMO always let the muggers get away--you NEVER know if they are high on something or just plain freaked out or crazy. you life is NOT worth it, and don't be fooled if your assailant is a small kid or something, craziness and desperation comes in all shapes and sizes.
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The "North Park Slope" you are referring too is not necessarily a safe place. If we walk around oblivious to what is around us, staring into our phones and not watching where we are going, we become targets. It is June, the days are longer and warmer, school is almost out, the prisons and other institutions tend to release more of their population in the spring months and electronic devices are the number one object of desire in many cases. Look up and around and we can see our neighborhood for what it really is and...take a look up and down the street, stay alert as best as you can no matter where you are going. On the other hand: Last fall, I tripped over a raised sidewalk -- a tree root had pushed its way upward. My cell fell out of my bag (neighbor watched me fall, must have had a chuckle but never said a word). Felt shaken and humiliated and tired. Brushed myself off and limped home. A little later, I started to receive calls from folks who normally wouldn't call at 9PM. I was eating dinner so I didn't feel like picking. I have a home phone too, yes. At this point, hadn't realized the cell was missing. Finally, my mom's attendant. was calling...it was 9PM so I panicked and picked up. She said a man with an accent called her because he saw her caller ID on my phone. He gave her his number, etc. I gave him a call and (even though police tell us not to do this as we could be robbed again) he gave me his address. I didn't want him to know mine for some silly reason, so I walked over to the Underhill address. Saw him standing in front of the building (I called before I left) and felt reasonable safe, crossed the street and said hello. Wow, he was cute and young and Italian and I am not...any of these things. I thanked him, was panicked but relieved and never thought about giving him a reward. Just thanked him profusely and went home. My life was in that phone (although about six months later the phone died and we couldn't retrieve the info anyway). Weeks later, I took a look at my pics and there he was smiling and waving. THE END
If I don't quite understand you...well, that's all right...if you don't want to understand me...it really doesn't matter.... If we all try to understand each other, well now, just think of what might happen! -
independent mind » IMO always let the muggers get away--you NEVER know if they are high on something or just plain freaked out or crazy. you life is NOT worth it, and don't be fooled if your assailant is a small kid or something, craziness and desperation comes in all shapes and sizes.
/agree There is no "fair" in fighting or robbing. I am glad for you and your family that you weren't seriously beat, stabbed, or shot. -
StoopLady » The "North Park Slope" you are referring too is not necessarily a safe place. If we walk around oblivious to what is around us, staring into our phones and not watching where we are going, we become targets. It is June, the days are longer and warmer, school is almost out, the prisons and other institutions tend to release more of their population in the spring months and electronic devices are the number one object of desire in many cases. Look up and around and we can see our neighborhood for what it really is and...take a look up and down the street, stay alert as best as you can no matter where you are going. On the other hand: Last fall, I tripped over a raised sidewalk -- a tree root had pushed its way upward. My cell fell out of my bag (neighbor watched me fall, must have had a chuckle but never said a word). Felt shaken and humiliated and tired. Brushed myself off and limped home. A little later, I started to receive calls from folks who normally wouldn't call at 9PM. I was eating dinner so I didn't feel like picking. I have a home phone too, yes. At this point, hadn't realized the cell was missing. Finally, my mom's attendant. was calling...it was 9PM so I panicked and picked up. She said a man with an accent called her because he saw her caller ID on my phone. He gave her his number, etc. I gave him a call and (even though police tell us not to do this as we could be robbed again) he gave me his address. I didn't want him to know mine for some silly reason, so I walked over to the Underhill address. Saw him standing in front of the building (I called before I left) and felt reasonable safe, crossed the street and said hello. Wow, he was cute and young and Italian and I am not...any of these things. I thanked him, was panicked but relieved and never thought about giving him a reward. Just thanked him profusely and went home. My life was in that phone (although about six months later the phone died and we couldn't retrieve the info anyway). Weeks later, I took a look at my pics and there he was smiling and waving. THE END
Not sure what the point of this story is. Always be alert? Never give out your address? Always give a reward? Try to lose your phone and maybe meet a cute young Italian guy? Focus, please. -
whynot_31 » sorry you lost your phone. ....but it sounds like you could have avoided injury by just letting it go. There are bold ones There are old ones ...but there are very few bold, old ones.
I agree. Not saying you are to blame in any way (obviously), but all should use this story to remember to just give whatever it is up. I always carry around an expensive laptop and have property insurance just to be extra sure that I would not hesitate to give up my case if demanded. Most of the time, you'll get mugged and loose the crap anyhow. But that 10% chance that you will get even more inured.... Moral: Just give up your @#$@#$. (insert NBC "the more you know" chime)Did Someone Say Walk? -
Are we supposed to have a purpose on this site? Sorry.
If I don't quite understand you...well, that's all right...if you don't want to understand me...it really doesn't matter.... If we all try to understand each other, well now, just think of what might happen! -
Anonymous
Posts: 9,622StoopLady » Are we supposed to have a purpose on this site? Sorry.
11 posts and 2 months in and djatty has the whole thing figured out 
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Flexichick » [quote="StoopLady"]Are we supposed to have a purpose on this site? Sorry.
11 posts and 2 months in and djatty has the whole thing figured out :wink:[/quote] Yep. Wasn't that hard, really. -
Anonymous
Posts: 9,622djatty » [quote="Flexichick"][quote="StoopLady"]Are we supposed to have a purpose on this site? Sorry.
11 posts and 2 months in and djatty has the whole thing figured out :wink:[/quote] Yep. Wasn't that hard, really.[/quote] Mods - please forward prize to djatty. We have a winner! -
Stooplady, made me LOLz(\__/)
(=’.'=)
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Flexichick » [quote="djatty"][quote="Flexichick"][quote="StoopLady"]Are we supposed to have a purpose on this site? Sorry.
11 posts and 2 months in and djatty has the whole thing figured out :wink:[/quote] Yep. Wasn't that hard, really.[/quote] Mods - please forward prize to djatty. We have a winner![/quote] Sweet! What's my prize? More condescension? -
Anonymous
Posts: 9,622djatty » [quote="Flexichick"][quote="djatty"][quote="Flexichick"][quote="StoopLady"]Are we supposed to have a purpose on this site? Sorry.
11 posts and 2 months in and djatty has the whole thing figured out :wink:[/quote] Yep. Wasn't that hard, really.[/quote] Mods - please forward prize to djatty. We have a winner![/quote] Sweet! What's my prize? More condescension?[/quote] more focus! -
No, unless it's gentricondescension of which you speak. We have that in, erm..well let's just say we have plenty of that here.
i extend my battery life by turning down the brightness -
Anonymous
Posts: 9,622jeffrey » No, unless it's gentricondescension of which you speak. We have that in, erm..well let's just say we have plenty of that here.
do NOT say "spades" or you will open up a whole other can of worms and we will all be subjected to a 'history lesson" 
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Oh dear...think I'll go back to posting info on the Brooklyn Library. Good night all.If I don't quite understand you...well, that's all right...if you don't want to understand me...it really doesn't matter.... If we all try to understand each other, well now, just think of what might happen!
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